The furniture has arrived

I mentioned last week that we had bought some "pieces" of stylish furniture from a nice place in the Wairarapa.  They arrived earlier this week, but we've only just got them upstairs into the lounge.

I do like the armchair.  The leather is really thick and the padding is soft enough to be comfortable, but firm enough to give great support.  It also has two large side pockets, useful to store things like remote controls, books, papers, and even the possibility of concealing a small glass of whisky from my gimlet-eyed beloved.

This chair was owned by Hika Reid, an All Black who played first in 1980, and my rugby-mad beloved bargained with the lovely owner of the shop to get an autographed picture from Hika at the first opportunity.

Hika Reid

Then we move onto the dresser.  It was probably a bedroom piece when it was first used, and there's signs that it's been slightly altered.  It is in good condition however, no borer (the NZ equivalent to woodworm) and made from good quality Kauri.  All the drawers are hand made, showing good quality concealed dovetail joints, which are obviously sawn by hand.  There's a few dents and minor scratches, but the whole thing works as a full-of-character piece.  Eventually we'll be using it as a TV cabinet, to support the big TV, hopefully so we can sit and watch the All Blacks win the bloody world cup.

If they don't. the whole of NZ is going to go into a huge depression.  It was bad the last time, in 2007.  When France beat the ABs in Cardiff during the quarter finals, there was a huge feeling of disbelief form everyone.
Beaten by the French?
Only the quarter finals?
WHY DIDN'T THEY GO FOR THE DROP GOAL?
No answers, but they'd better win this year.  Or else.

The last piece is a console or hall table. Really well made, possibly in Italy, its top can open up to double the width, and the legs can spilt and swivel to create a small extra dining table. When we first put it up against the wall, it was under a large autographed photo of Tana Umaga (The previous and great captain of the All Blacks, and who used to be a pupil at our school in Nuova Lazio) which I procured for my beloved's Christmas present.  Unfortunately when we put the table under the photo it started to look like a shrine to Tana.  While my beloved is a great rugby fan, she actually doesn't worship them, so the photo had to go, and we replaced it with a lovely embroidered tapestry of a bowl of flowers.

Here's the original picture of Tana, showing his autograph.

I happen to think we live in a lovely house, in a lovely part of New Zealand, which is itself a gorgeous part of the world.

Our front room (In Scotland, it would be referred to as "The Good Room")

It's about 11 metres long, and very bright in the daytime.

 I was asked to give a 5 minute presentation to a class of Year 11s (15 year olds) about why I came to NZ from Scotland.  It went really well, and I got lots of questions about cultural differences, and how did i feel leaving family behind.  I think it was the familial (or whanau) dimension which caused the greatest discussion. Many of the kids just couldn't contemplate leaving family behind.  New Zealanders, partly because the pioneering character still prevails, and pioneers NEED family and friends to survive, and partly because of the Maori and Pacific Island culture which holds family as the most important social grouping, are very family oriented.  At the end of the presentation, one of the students asked,
"You've said you like New Zealand, and you've given your reasons for coming here, but would you leave New Zealand for somewhere else?"
I instantly relied, "No, I think of myself as a Kiwi, and I have no intention of leaving"
He thought a second and then asked'
"But even if you got more money, would you leave NZ?"
"No" I replied, not even for more money"
"Even if they offered THREE time the pay?" he asked.
"Not even for three times" I said firmly.
He (and they) looked shocked.  Why was I that attached to NZ.  They thought it was OK, but nothing special.
I tried to get the ideas across to them.  Of all the many countries I've lived in and visited, NZ had the best variations in scenery, the most glorious mountains, lakes (or lochs), coasts and beaches, warm and clement weather, and primarily, the most friendly and supportive people I've ever met.
Don't get me wrong, I still love Scotland, and the Scots are very friendly and approachable, but ask yourself this.  The last time you were in a Supermarket, did the girl who packed your groceries ask how you were getting on, and did you have a conversation about your/her holidays?  I did yesterday, and Carol was very envious about our trip to Melbourne, and I was envious about her planned trip to Tahiti.  I've had conversations with Scots at a bus stop, in pubs, in Fish & Chip shops, even *looks down at feet and blushes slightly* in toilets, but nobody is as friendly and approachable as Kiwis.

A cup of tea?

There's a story from Jeremy Clarkson (of all people).  He was stuck in a town called Palmerston North, about 100 km North of Wellington. He was stuck at the airport, waiting for a delayed flight.  The guy at the book-in desk told him that he'd have at least a 2 hour wait.  Now being stuck in Palmerston North at any time of the day, is like being stuck in Stornaway on a wet Sunday.  Depressing and bugger-all to do.  The check-in guy knew this, and so invited Clarkson and his film crew round to his own home for a cup of tea and a bite to eat.

Only in New Zealand, and why I love this place.

Just win the world cup guys. Win the world cup or else.


PS 90,000   Ho Hum